
Defending champion Novak Djokovic was clinical in his third round match as he dispatched of Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka at the 2020 Australian Open.
The World No.2 wasted little time in schooling his younger opponent, requiring just under an hour and a half to clinch the match 6-3 6-2 6-2.
The 2019 champion Novak Djokovic won an astounding 93% of his first serves, hitting an incredible 40 winners to 23 unforced errors. The Serbian hit winners from both wings, in addition to displaying amazing proficiency at the net.
After putting up a valiant effort against Rafael Nadal at the recent ATP Cup, Nishioka must have imagined he stood a whisker of a chance against the spectacular Serb. Any hope of victory quickly evaporated as Djokovic immediately broke his serve, before claiming the first set in exactly 30 minutes.
Losing the opening set against the 16-time Grand Slam champion is an uphill battle for almost anyone. Losing your serve in the first game of the second set will sound the death knell for any comeback. Nishioka lacked the firepower to hurt the Serbian, and it became more evident as the match progressed.
Djokovic was cerebral in his approach, attacking his unseeded opponent with a variety of top-spin and slice groundstrokes. The crowd seemed almost disappointed as the match neared it's conclusion, perhaps wanting to see more of the 7-time champion.
Despite facing a break point in his last service game, the Serbian was able to close out the match on his second match point. He now faces Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the fourth round, an encounter that's likely to be more challenging than today's matchup.
[embed]https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/1220592989317275650[/embed]
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
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mandoist12-11-2026 - Tell this to Andreeva!
mandoist12-11-2026 - Andreeva with 11 games in a row to add to Saba's downward spiral issue !!! Personal feelings aside... Jess Pegula may want to reassess her evaluation of Mirra's abilities.
mandoist12-11-2026 - I predicted whenthe list was finalised that Linda Noskova would win the WTA Finals and her matches against Gauff and Kostyuk prove that. She is the best (underrated) player in the world!Rapunzel11-11-2026
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mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!
mandoist09-11-2026 - "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?
mandoist09-11-2026 - Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.
mandoist08-11-2026 - Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??
mandoist08-11-2026







